What did you do on your layout today?

Thanks for the advice guys and Paul knows I am working on this daily as he keeps texting me where is the updates so I have to stop working to send him a picture each day.  As for the repeating factor these are just cropped examples because I didn't want to post the entire file.  Each picture above has about 3 feet of different patterns and as for the graffiti it would never be repeated.  I would just add what I wanted to that section before printing it out.  I should have explained that because I forgot Paul doesn't understand much about computers, or photoshop, and definitely not the layering technique. lol

Hi Bryan in Ohio, These photos I took of two different girder-bridges along Rt.11, during a road trip from NJ to Upstate NY, north of Clarks Summit, may be of interest to you as you think about your project...

FrankM

Thanks Frank really like the faded aged graffiti.  Should be able to replicate that using the eraser tool at less than 100%  opacity. It still shows up but now real faded.  Original on left faded technique on right. 

Bryan in Ohio posted:

Thanks Frank really like the faded aged graffiti.  Should be able to replicate that using the eraser tool at less than 100%  opacity. It still shows up but now real faded.  Original on left faded technique on right. 

Of your 4 choices, NOT the second one from the top (light colored).  The others could be mixed with the bottom one where sections may have been "replaced".

leapinlarry posted:

Well friends of the OGR Forum, here are some pictures of FarmerJohns layout, in Kentucky, a true work in progress, a great friend and his nice layout utilizes Lionel Legacy Command, and Gunrunner Johns TM Buffer has truly enhanced the performance of all his Command Locomotives, his signal strength is powerful. It takes up his entire basement, 50 by 70, or close to that. Enjoy the pictures, his work is excellent.  We had a train day last Thursday where 15 to 25 guys get together to socialize and enjoy our trains....

 

 

Larry,

Let me know if you go down there again.  Would like to see this layout.  I live in Cincinnati.

You can get my email from my profile page.

thanks,

sam parfitt

Bryan, I like the one with the heavy ribs like Frank's photographs, your bottom one.  I do like the second one, the white, heavily rusted one.  I think the heavily rusted white because it looks so familiar to me, but I can't place where.  As to graffiti, it does have it's place on your wrong side of the tracks area especially.  I don't like graffiti in real life, so I won't do it on my layout.  Anyway mine will be dated about 1950, so there was mush less of it 'on display' as well!  On modern bridges, just as on freight cars, there is some real talent shown in graffiti.  I'm sure whatever you pick will look great!

Paul, good job keeping Bryan's nose to the grindstone!!  

Mark, it has been a tiring job keeping Byran on track.  I had the daughter and grand daughter over the weekend and then for the past few days it has been yard work to get ready to head to Wisconsin and the Menards Train Expo. Wife and I are making a long weekend out of it with a stop at Elliots to see all his progress in person Saturday. And when I get back Bryan should have his elevated section done. So today I got a package from Scenic Express that was  backordered, which I had totally forgotten about. Some more Martin Welburg bushes. Everyone have a great Fourth of July. Pic..................Paul 2

Paul, it is always a treat to get something in the mail that was forgotten!

 I’m glad you had your daughter and granddaughter to visit!  Have a safe and enjoyable trip to the Menards show and Elliot’s!  I’ll look forward to reading about both afterwards!

Have a safe and happy Independence Day to all Americans who are here!  Have a great day everyone of every nation represented here!

Happy 4th y'all! I ran my super O loop on the inclosed porch this morning and added a switch and a siding. In the process I shocked myself! I haven't had that happen in a while. Everyone's photos look great. 

Cleaned two of my main lines and ran a train for the first time in nearly 3 months (due to a much needed knee replacement and physical therapy)... This is the “Milk and Cookies” Train - the story goes a NYC Niagara (Vision Line version) leading a milk train (milk cars from the Century Club II) into Manhattan stopped at the Stella D'oro factory to pick up a couple of Pacemaker box cars (new VERY old stock from Grzyboski’s) loaded with cookies and biscotti!!!

APPLES55, nice layout, cool video, neat Niagara, is it VL?, also cool 765 going up grade, very nice set up, and Happy Fourth Of July....Glad you back running your nice trains....I hope your knee/knees are healing properly and that physical therapy puts you back in action.  Great thread, Happy Railroading...

Larry, you have such a nice layout.  How long have you been working it?

Ted W, we started the layout in 1999, and used Linn Westcotts, grid system for easy ups and downs, and although it has a finished appearance, I need to finish wiring the accessories and clean the track. I got back into the hobby when Command Control became the game changer. We utilize Legacy and I can’t wait to set up routes. My layout was featured in OGR The video #10. A layouts never finished, but the hardest part is over. Thank you for your contributions to this great forum. Happy Railroading 

Ok guys, I am sorry I have been gone for the last couple of days. Its not much fun between doctors and work, but I have to keep the wife happy. If I had my way I would do neither! LOL I just got done reading 2 pages worth to get up to speed, Wow what great work and wonderful layouts! I once again handed out a bunch of likes as I don't have the time or will right now to comment on every post. But  a few do stand out and I need to say something about them.

Mitch, I am very glad to see your doing well and love that you take your time to educate the kids! 

Ralph, Great work on your engines and passenger car!

Larry, very nice engines, Both of them! Thank you so much for sharing the farm layout what a great looking layout! But then again I cant say it is any better the yours. I love all the pictures of your layout and really makes one dream!

Dave, Wonderful job on the tower! I like your idea of putting some kind of background behind it! I cant wait to see what you come up with!

Bryan, I really like the white one with rust and the last one. I thing you could do either one all the way around or both, But I think trying to use both would be better.

Brian, I wanted to save you for last as you always have great pictures of your layout trains and the real one's which match up so great! I will have to say it was a shocker to see your rear holding down new lumber for the new train room! But it shows you do whatever it takes to get the job done!

I am not sure when I will get back out to the train room, but I know I have to extend the table top as I made a rookie mistake and didn't leave enough room for buildings and roads. You cant have a layout with cars and trucks and no roads. So when I get back out there I plan on adding an extra 6" for roads. I am open to thoughts if anyone has a better idea! I hope everyone has a great 4th of July and coming up weekend! Please be safe!

Paul, my turn to offer wishes for a speedy recovery!   

Mike, thanks for the kind words!  Fortescue was riding on the back platform of the caboose and got lots of squeals of delight and laughter...   

Mitch

Paul, I’m glad the PT is coming along.  And glad you got some layout time in. My wife had one knee replaced and is getting the other done later this month.  Now I need one replaced, but told the surgeon I’ll wait until my wife has recovered!  It’s always something!

Mike, we will both hang in there on getting layout time.  I moved a piece of Homasote from the back of the pile to the front so I can cut some more roadbed.  That was pretty good considering my back and sciatic are a bit more cranky and the other knee will need replaced when my wife has recovered!  It seems we all talk about our ailments as much as trains here!  LOL. It makes me realize I am in good company!!

Paul, I hope you recover from your knee very soon!

Mark, tell your wife she is in our thoughts and prayers for a fast recovery! Also when it comes your time we will be thinking of you! I seen you did a little mock up on your layout, I think it looks great! But don't over do yourself!

Randy, I sent you an email and you should be getting your crane movement motor setup today. I forgot to tell you when I bench tested it I used a AC Adaptor with an output of 8.4v DC 400mA and it worked nice and slow and smooth. You will need a DPDT momentary switch wired so you can change the direction of the motor. Good luck and any questions feel free to give me a call!

Well guys its Friday! I hope everyone has a great weekend and whatever you do have FUN!

Apples55 posted:

Cleaned two of my main lines and ran a train for the first time in nearly 3 months (due to a much needed knee replacement and physical therapy)... This is the “Milk and Cookies” Train - the story goes a NYC Niagara (Vision Line version) leading a milk train (milk cars from the Century Club II) into Manhattan stopped at the Stella D'oro factory to pick up a couple of Pacemaker box cars (new VERY old stock from Grzyboski’s) loaded with cookies and biscotti!!!

I love the milk cars! I've collected most of the ones Lionel has made but haven't bought the CCII set. I'd love to find one but I'd have to buy something New York Central to pull them! Maybe get a subsidiary road like a Boston and Albany berkshire!

Greetings all- Happy bleated 4th! Hope everyone had a great day.

Paul- glad to hear you are recovering and able to get down stairs to run some trains. I can still smell the

Stella d'oro factory (Entenmann's too!).

Larry- love your layout. The old pinup posters are great too. My uncle had a few hanging in his work shop. I remember sneaking in there when I was a kid to take a peek! 

Mike- If we didn't make mistakes or forget stuff we would all finish our layouts in about 5 minutes.

Mark- Best to your wife for a successful surgery and recovery.

Berkshirelover- let's see some pix....

I hope to get my tracks cleaned and run some trains this weekend. Fingers crossed.

Bob

Mike G, I know how busy you’ve been with everyday life and yet you take time to give everyone a pat on the back so to speak which I feel is awesome. Layouts are so much fun to review, Ideas others share for our learning experiences, and especially yours for the novel way of making a gantry crane actually go back and forth with the push of a button. Wow. Also your lift bridge, so cool. Mark Boyce also is on the forum sharing compliments and his above the room empire which is uniquely great, and then the floor layout which is coming together nicely. So many others, Briansilvermustang whom has endless ideas and shows real pictures of real life trains and similarly actual models of the real trains, amazing. Paul 2 has many points of interest and Mitch’s back from a drama with his health, God is Good, Big Boy 4005 adds a lot of enthusiasm to our conversations and has lots a trains and great ideas, then RSJB18 Bob is a fantastic contributor to many different aspects of this forum, always cheerful, places many interesting pictures of real trains that are fantastic to see, his B&O GP9/7 is Beautiful and Vincent Massi a great contributor of information, then there’s Trainroomgary, great cook, great videographer with an amazing train layout and train room, very interesting, then there’s Mayor Magoo, full of nice likes, Ted W, always makes interesting comments and is very active on this forum, his pictures of the awesome PA’s on 6-18 were beautiful, Randy Harrison always places great pictures of Steam Locomotives, Diesel Engines for our pleasure. SuperChief, likes our forum, Trussman gives a lot of ideas and likes, and Chessie1971 is full of neat things always checking things out, and if folks are actually reading this page, hats off to Moonson, a truly gifted contributor, a fantastic modeler with an award winning layout which I would love to see in person, he is always upbeat, a true lover of our Hobby, and Bill T, a great contributor to the OGR Forum with a great model railroad layout and P51 Lee, an amazing model builder, super photographer, a man with a plan, very organized. Of course, CGWforever, great contributor, neat layout, Yes, Gunrunner John, a true professional, an electronic genius, a man that is one of the most knowledgeable about all the Command Systems offered in our hobby today. He is always helpful and curtious to everyone and can repair most any of our defective trains. His new layout will be a thriller. Steamer, his threads are great, his layout really neat. Bryan in Ohio, wow, creative layout m neat subway area, great contributor to our forum, and Samparfitt, what a name, always has nice comments and I would like to see more pictures of his trains....Apples55 please keep up the therapy and post more pictures, your video was cool.  So, I know I’ve missed a few great contributors, forgive me, but my wish for all our OGR Friends is to stay as healthy as possible and if your ever in Tennessee, come see me. Trains are fun, but the real fun us sharing them with others in the hobby. Happy Fourth Of July weekend everybody.....Happy Railroading 

Thanks Larry. One of the best things I did when I got back into the hobby was joining the OGR forum. A great bunch of guys and gals who, like you, take the time to appreciate everyone's work.

Bob

Larry, i don't think anyone could have said it any better! This sure a great group of people that are full of information, idea, and master skills! The best part is everiis more then willing to share so the rest of us can learn!

Larry, I'm my book you are at the top of this list, and I don't care what anyone says, i really love your Red & Silver Santa Dr engines! I could look at them all day!

Have a great weekend and thank you for the kind word you put out there for everyone! 

Changed the batteries in some of the handheld controllers

Got up early today to go fishing for about 2 hours and then came back to the train room to take care of a small job but absolutely needed to be done.

The green arrows show the tags I place on the handheld controller, that show today’s date. I do not use rechargeable batteries and I change the batteries every year.

I will also have a Dark Chocolate Yooper Bar after lunch today.

Gary

Mike, Bob, I will pass along your well wishes and prayers to my wife.  

Larry, Thank you for acknowledging so many great folks here on the Forum.  It is such a great group, I am honored to have a place among all of you!  As I've said before, your layout is a wonderful creation!

Brian, great photographs once again!  You must spend some time each day coming up with a theme!!

Mitch, I'm glad to see you are back at it with a show!!

A Yooper bar is a new one on me!  Sounds good!

I had the time today to work with my S gauge layout instead of just run it. I cleaned the track and some of the wheels. It’s been a while since it’s been worked on at all. I also switched cars around since the AF e-unit decided to work today. It made it much easier to switch cars out

The other thing I did was pick out all the larger Lionel coal that was mixed in with some of the HO scale coal I’ve been using in my coal loader. I read a lot of Tony Koster’s books and one thing he always points out is that coal is not just coal. There are different sizes and such. So trying to be realistic I wanted to separate it out. It was actually very meditative to sit and pick the coal out. 

I may paint some people later on tonight. Hope everyone is having a great day and have a great weekend!

samparfitt posted:

leapinlarry posted:

Well friends of the OGR Forum, here are some pictures of FarmerJohns layout, in Kentucky, a true work in progress, a great friend and his nice layout utilizes Lionel Legacy Command, and Gunrunner Johns TM Buffer has truly enhanced the performance of all his Command Locomotives, his signal strength is powerful. It takes up his entire basement, 50 by 70, or close to that. Enjoy the pictures, his work is excellent.  We had a train day last Thursday where 15 to 25 guys get together to socialize and enjoy our trains....

 

 

Larry,

Let me know if you go down there again.  Would like to see this layout.  I live in Cincinnati.

You can get my email from my profile page.

thanks,

sam parfitt

Ran trains and took some photos for today's SWSat

Just in case Paul is checking up on me from the menards expo in Wisconsin....I finished cutting and painting 268 linear feet of fiberboard that I'm going to use to attach the girder sections to for the upper level.  Oh and by the way funny story...Paul spends too much time checking on my progress so much so that he forgot his expo tickets at home.  So he told me he'll drive around Wisconsin (spending more gas money) until he finds a menards so he can buy the "discounted" tickets.  Lol

Ha,ha very funny Bryan. If I did not have to keep after you to work on the elevated line I would not have forgotten my tickets. But Bryan luck follows me and there was Menards close to the hotel and got tickets for 3 dollars each. Right now I am at the show having a great time. And have found out the new releases. Maybe if you to be nice to me I'll Send you pics .....Paul 2

I added some Woodland Scenic LED lights inside one of my Menards buildings so you can see the rolling stock better. There is a new Arista ice machine outside the building as well. I also added a MTH Railking - Southern Bus with an Arista sailor waiting at the train station. 

Nothing, unfortunately i have been trying to fix the transmission on my car for the last few days.  I have never been defeated by a car repair before and have tackled some pretty big jobs.   This one got the best of me though and unfortunately it will be towed on Monday to a local transmission repair shop.  

Word of advice, take your time, check,double check, and triple check your work.  Do not rush things.   I failed to take my own advice.

leapinlarry posted:

Mike G, I know how busy you’ve been with everyday life and yet you take time to give everyone a pat on the back so to speak which I feel is awesome. Layouts are so much fun to review, Ideas others share for our learning experiences, and especially yours for the novel way of making a gantry crane actually go back and forth with the push of a button. Wow. Also your lift bridge, so cool. Mark Boyce also is on the forum sharing compliments and his above the room empire which is uniquely great, and then the floor layout which is coming together nicely. So many others, Briansilvermustang whom has endless ideas and shows real pictures of real life trains and similarly actual models of the real trains, amazing. Paul 2 has many points of interest and Mitch’s back from a drama with his health, God is Good, Big Boy 4005 adds a lot of enthusiasm to our conversations and has lots a trains and great ideas, then RSJB18 Bob is a fantastic contributor to many different aspects of this forum, always cheerful, places many interesting pictures of real trains that are fantastic to see, his B&O GP9/7 is Beautiful and Vincent Massi a great contributor of information, then there’s Trainroomgary, great cook, great videographer with an amazing train layout and train room, very interesting, then there’s Mayor Magoo, full of nice likes, Ted W, always makes interesting comments and is very active on this forum, his pictures of the awesome PA’s on 6-18 were beautiful, Randy Harrison always places great pictures of Steam Locomotives, Diesel Engines for our pleasure. SuperChief, likes our forum, Trussman gives a lot of ideas and likes, and Chessie1971 is full of neat things always checking things out, and if folks are actually reading this page, hats off to Moonson, a truly gifted contributor, a fantastic modeler with an award winning layout which I would love to see in person, he is always upbeat, a true lover of our Hobby, and Bill T, a great contributor to the OGR Forum with a great model railroad layout and P51 Lee, an amazing model builder, super photographer, a man with a plan, very organized. Of course, CGWforever, great contributor, neat layout, Yes, Gunrunner John, a true professional, an electronic genius, a man that is one of the most knowledgeable about all the Command Systems offered in our hobby today. He is always helpful and curtious to everyone and can repair most any of our defective trains. His new layout will be a thriller. Steamer, his threads are great, his layout really neat. Bryan in Ohio, wow, creative layout m neat subway area, great contributor to our forum, and Samparfitt, what a name, always has nice comments and I would like to see more pictures of his trains....Apples55 please keep up the therapy and post more pictures, your video was cool.  So, I know I’ve missed a few great contributors, forgive me, but my wish for all our OGR Friends is to stay as healthy as possible and if your ever in Tennessee, come see me. Trains are fun, but the real fun us sharing them with others in the hobby. Happy Fourth Of July weekend everybody.....Happy Railroading 

Love the photos.....nice layout....

spent a lazy day out on the river.....

Bryan, Good work on the elevated line!!

Paul, I hope you are having a great time!!  I'm glad you got to see the new releases and got discount tickets at $3!!  

Howard, Great day for a lazy float on the river.  

NS1975, Excellent photographs!

Bob, nice photographs.  I am wearing my Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Cheat Mountain Salamander shirt with WM BL2 #82 on the front!!

Bob, Looks like a good time! I really like the 1st photo with the loading dock! Nice work!

Bryan, way to go! 286 LF WOW!

Paul 2, Glad you found some more tickets! I hope you had a good time at the show and an even better time at Elliot's!

NS1975, Looking good, nice job on the extra lighting!

Jim, sorry to hear about your tranny, I sure hope it isn't going to cost a lot to get it fixed!

Howard beautiful day in your neighborhood! 

Mark, Just trying to keep up, I cant go threw 400 emails again! LOL I sure hope your having a great weekend!

As for me I did not get anytime in the train room today, I hope to get a little time tomorrow for a birthday gift, I already got a great birthday gift from my doc. My MRI for my brain came back clear!

Well tomorrow is Sunday, day of rest so I hope you all take time and relax and soak in what life has to offer. But remember please have Fun!

Good evening, I haven't had time to do anything to my layout other than peek under the drop cloths and say, yes it's still all there !!!!

Mike, I’m glad you got an excellent report from the MRI.  400 emails!  Yes they can roll up fast!  

leapinlarry posted:

APPLES55, nice layout, cool video, neat Niagara, is it VL?, also cool 765 going up grade, very nice set up, and Happy Fourth Of July....Glad you back running your nice trains....I hope your knee/knees are healing properly and that physical therapy puts you back in action.  Great thread, Happy Railroading...

Larry;

Thanks... are too kind. The knee is coming along fine - I’m getting around better than I have in years. 

And my layout does not approach the level of yours. Your multiple levels give an amazing depth that is spectacular. This is the first layout I have ever built (started at the ripe old age of 60), and I guess my goal was to get some track laid down so I could run all the trains I collected over the last 40 years... if I ever do another, I’ll definitely consider layering.

M. Mitchell Marmel posted:

Paul, my turn to offer wishes for a speedy recovery!   

Mike, thanks for the kind words!  Fortescue was riding on the back platform of the caboose and got lots of squeals of delight and laughter...   

Mitch

Tanks Mitch, but my problems pale in comparison to yours... I was operated on Tuesday morning, was released Thursday afternoon, and in Physical Therapy by Monday. I’m now getting around better than I have in years - still working on strengthening the knee, but no where near the pain I used to have.

Hope all is going well with your recuperating.